In Padua, Italy, Zef (Joseph) Valentini Italian cleric of the Jesuit Order, albanologist was born. He graduated in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He served in Albania from 1922 until 1943 (with short interruptions). He was appointed a missionary of the Society of Jesus in Shkodra, initially working as a literature teacher and later as director at the Saverian College. He quickly learned the Albanian language and became involved in the Albanian cultural movement of those years. In Shkodra, he edited the magazine “Leka,” where he published numerous articles on various fields, including history, linguistics, literature, theology, customary law, etc. During the years 1933–1939, he also directed the religious magazine “Lajmëtari i zemrës së Jezu Krishtit” (Messenger of the Heart of Jesus). He also collaborated with the cultural magazine of the Franciscans “Hylli i Dritës,” as well as with the magazine “Drini,” and others. He was also a collaborator of various Italian cultural magazines, such as “Quaderni di Dante” (Dante’s Notebooks), “Civiltà catolica” (Catholic Civilization), etc. After leaving Albania in 1943, Zef Valentini continued his work in the field of Albanology. He pursued his studies on Albanians in Sicily, at the Albanology department of the University of Palermo. In 1950, he directed the International Institute of Albanian Studies at this university. Zef Valentini’s studies are a valuable contribution to the understanding of medieval history in general. He published the monumental work in 27 volumes “Acta Albaniae Veneta saeculorum XIV et XV” (Venetian Acts concerning Albania of the 14th and 15th centuries). He passed away in Palermo in 1979. (In the photo: Zef Valentini)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2845.
Photo: © https://www.vaticannews.va/
Graphic processing: AHCF
